Event of Ghadir: Difference between revisions

'''The Event of Ghadir''', according to Shi'a beliefs, is among the most important events of Islamic history, in which on his return from Hajjat al-Wida' [Hajj of Farewell], the Prophet (s) introduced Imam Ali (a) as his vicegerent and people’s guardian after himself at a place called Ghadir Khum, where everyone including greatest Companions promised allegiance to Imam Ali (a).

The Prophet (s) moved from Medina to Mecca on 24th or 25th of Dhu al-Qi’dah 10 AH accompanied by thousands of people (some even mentioned this number more up to 120 thousand people). This hajj of the Prophet (s) was also called Hajjat al-Wida’, Hajjat al-Islam and Hajjat al-Balagh. In that month, Imam Ali (a) was in Yemen for preaching Islam and when he was informed about the Prophet’s (s) hajj, he (a) also moved towards Mecca together with some people and joined the Prophet (s) before rituals began. When rituals of hajj finished, the Prophet (s) left Mecca for Medina together with other Muslims.

After performing Zuhr prayer, the Prophet (s) made a speech which became famous as Ghadir Speech. In that speech, the Prophet (s) said, “Praise belongs only to God and we ask Him for help and we believe in Him and take refuge to Him from the evil of our selves and ugliness of our actions… God, the Merciful and All-Knower informed me that I will be called (to Him) soon and I will submit to (His call)… I will come to the pond of Kawthar before you do and you come to me beside it; so beware about how you treat Thiqlayn [two great things]; Thiql al-Akbar, the greater one is the Book of God and the other is my household.”

Then, the Prophet (s) raised Ali’s (a) hand so that people could see him and then said, “O people! Am I not more deserved to your guardianship then you yourselves?” and people answered, “yes, O Prophet (s)!” Then, the Prophet (s) said, “God is my guardian and I am the guardian of the believers and I am more deserved for your guardianship than you for yourselves. Therefore, anyone whose guardian is me, then Ali (a) is his guardian.” The Prophet (s) repeated this sentence three times and said, “O God! Befriend and be the guardian of whom befriends Ali (a) and considers me his guardian and be the enemy of those who is his enemy. Help anyone who helps him and leave anyone who abandons him.” Then, he (s) addressed people and said, “Those who are here ought to deliver this message to those who are absent.”

People had not scattered yet, when Gabriel came to the Prophet (s) once more and revealed the third verse of Chapter Ma’idah to the Prophet (s) which is known as the verse of Ikmal. A part of the verse reads, “Today I have perfected your religion for you, and I have completed My blessing upon you, and I have approved Islam as your religion.” (5:3)

Then, people congratulated Imam Ali (a) including Abu Bakr and 'Umar who repeatedly said, “Happy for you O son of Abu Talib (a)! You are my Wali (guardian) and the Wali of every believing man and woman.”

The Prophet (s) ordered that a tent was erected for Ali (a) and ordered people to go to him group by group and salute him as the Commander of the Faithful (a); and all people, even the wives of Prophet (s) and other women followed this order.”

Regarding the capacity of the area in Ghadir Khum, the population of Medina in 10 AH and also the number of people who went to hajj in Hajjat al-Wida’, the least number reported which is 10 thousand people is more credible.

The narration of Ghadir has been mentioned in both Shi'a and Sunni sources and some parts of the Prophet’s (s) speech are more frequently quoted such as “anyone whose guardian is me, then Ali (a) is his guardian.” The Companions and many of the Followers have reported the event.

Then, it also can be seen reported by 360 Sunni scholars of 2nd to 4th century AH including, the leader of Shafi’ites, Hanbalites, Ahmad b. Shu’ayb Nasa’i, Ibn Mughazili, Ahmad b. Abd Allah and Ahmad b. Abd Rabbih.

Shi'a and Sunni exegetes believe that some verses in the Qur’an are about the event of Ghadir and have been revealed to the Prophet (s) in Hajjat al-Wida’.

# Verse 3 of chapter Ma’idah which is known as the verse of Ikmal and says, “Today I have perfected your religion for you, and I have completed My blessing upon you, and I have approved Islam as your religion.”

# Verse 67 of the same chapter which is called the verse of Tabligh [propagation] and says, “O Apostle! Communicate that which has been sent down to you from your Lord, and if you do not, you will not have communicated His message, and Allah shall protect you from the people.”

# Verses 1 and 2 of Chapter Ma’arij which reads, “An asker asked for a punishment bound to befall (1) —which none can avert from the faithless” referring to the event that after the Prophet (s) announced the guardianship of Ali (a), a man whose name was Nu’man b. Harith Fihri came to the Prophet (s) and complained that, “You ordered us to acknowledge Unity of God, your mission, performing Jihad, hajj, fasting, prayer and giving Zakat and we accepted. But, you were not pleased with this much until you appointed this young man as our Wali. Is this appointment your own decision or from God?!” When the Prophet (s) answered him that it has been God’s order, the man asked God disdainfully that if this order is from God, a stone fells on his head from the sky. Then, a stone fell from the sky on his head and he dropped dead and this verse was then revealed.

Imam Ali (a) said, “O Muslims, Immigrants and the Helpers! Did not you hear that the Prophet (s) said this and that on the day of Ghadir Khum?” Everyone said, “yes!”

Lady Fatima (s) said, “It is as if you do not know what the Prophet (s) said on the day of Ghadit Khum! I swear to God, the Prophet (s) appointed and upheld the position of Wilayah and Imamate for Ali (a) to avoid your greed to take it.”

Imam Hasan (a) said, “Muslims saw the Prophet (s) and heard him when he (s) took my father’s hand on the day of Ghadir, when he (s) addressed them, 'anyone whose guardian is me, then Ali (a) is his guardian.’”

Imam Husayn (a) said, “The Prophet (s) raised Ali (a) through all good manners and when strengthened Ali’s (a) soul, appointed him for imamate and on the day of Ghadir said, 'anyone whose guardian is me, then Ali (a) is his guardian.’”

Imam al-Rida (a) said, “Day of Ghadir is more famous among the dwellers of skies than the people of the earth…if people knew the value of this day, the angels would undoubtedly shake hands with them 10 times a day.”

Abu Tamam Ta’i – Di'bil Khuza’i – Abu Isma’il Alawi – Wamiq Nasrani – Ibn Rumi – Hamani Afwa

Ibn Tabatabay Isfahani – Ibn Alawiyya Isfahani – Mufajja’ – Abu Qasim Sanowbari – Abu Firas Hamedani – Abu Najib Tahir

Sharif Radi – Sayyid Murtada – Mahyar Daylami – Abu Ali Basir –Abu al-Ali Mu’arri – Ibn Jubar Misri

Abu al-Hasan Fanjkurdi – Akhtab Khwarazmi – Qadi b. Qadus – Abu al-Mugharat Malik Salih – Qutb al-Din Rawandi – Abu al-Ma’ali al-Qadi Jalis

Abu al-Hasan al-Mansur Billah – Majd al-Din b. Jamil – Abu al-Hasan Jazzaz – Qadi Nizam al-Din – Shams al-Din Mahfuz b. Wushah – Baha’ al-Din Arbili

Ibn Dawud al-Hilli – Jamal al-Din Kha’i – Sariji Awali – Safi al-Din al-Halli – Shaybani Shafi’i – Shams al-Din Maliki

Ibn al-'Arandus  al-Hilli – Ibn Daghir al-Hilli – Hafiz Barsi al-Hilli – Diya’ al-Din al-Hadi – al-Hasan Al Abi Abd al-Karim

Ibrahim b. Kaf’ami – 'Izz al-Din 'Amili

Ibn Abi Shafin al-Bahrani – Zayn al-Din Hamidi – Shaykh Husayn Karaki – Shaykh Baha’i – Shaykh Hurr al-'Amili – Husayn b. Shihab Karaki

It has been esteemed so much that making allegiance with Musa’li b. Mansur (an Egyptian ruler) was held on the Eid Ghadir Khum 487 AH. Also, it is narrated by Sunni scholars that anyone who fasts 18th of Dhu al-Hijjah, (which is the day of Eid Ghadir Khum) God will reward him equal to the reward of 6 months of fasting. The eve of Ghadir Khum is also celebrated among Muslims.

The Prophet (s) said, “Day of Ghadir Khum is the greatest Eid of my people and that is the day when God perfected religion, and completed His blessing upon my people, and approved Islam as their religion.”

Also, Imam Sadiq (a) said, “Day of Ghadir Khum is a great Eid of God. God has not chosen a prophet unless He has regarded that day an Eid and has glorified it; and the name of this day is the Day of Promise in the skies and the Day of Covenant and Public Attendance on the earth.”